Thursday, February 28, 2008

So, I am here in North Carolina learning about many of the tricks of the photography trade, and many of my peers have told me that my blog has to be overhauled. (I guess I never knew blogs were looked at that much. Apparently they are. Who knew!?!)

So, long-term the blog will be updated with my logos and lots of other fun stuff, but for now at least we have fun things like RSS feeds, which allow folks to automatically be notified when my Blog is updated.

Okay, so now for the more about the convention...

One would think that going to North Carolina in March would be warmer, right? Not so. It was 30 degrees out today. (At least don't have snow. My laptop constantly reminds me that it is 18 degrees in D-town right now!)

Today we had another shooting session with models. I felt terrible for them. They were in strapless wedding dresses, outside for about an hour. All in the name of getting fabulous shots from some of the best photographers in the country. We each prepare images for review and critique tomorrow. I haven't figured out which of the images I'll post, but here are some of my favorites from today:

Posed in front of a small building. We had him saying lots of funny stuff to her.

A new technique that uses textures to give a totally different feel to the image. This is used lots in High School Senior portraiture, and in some edgy wedding photos. (This probably won't be the image that Great Grandma orders for her mantle, but I think it's cool!)

More textures...

Here, I used the posing and the sun to create some dramatic lighting, especially on the groom.

A fun close-up...

More fun shots...

At the base of a lighthouse...

and last but not least, up in a tree...

Well, it's time for bed (we are up by 7:00 at the latest)... and I'm going to be sleepy tomorrow!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

About a month ago, I partnered up with a wonderful graphic designer named Melissa. She’s wonderfully talented, and has allowed me to really focus (no pun intended) on what I do best – which is taking pictures. Melissa will be handling much of the album design, card design, and other informational pieces that leave the studio.

Recently, Melissa looked at my website and asked me about pregnancy shots, and if I had done them. (She is pregnant and due in only a couple months.) I previously didn’t mention pregnancy shots on my website – mainly because these shots are generally so private. I really didn’t have any examples to show to the general public because I believe very strongly in guarding my client’s privacy.

However, Melissa, being her wonderfully adventurous self, cheerfully said “you can post mine on the Internet”. So, thanks to Melissa, here are some examples of the pregnancy work I do behind the scenes. I have also updated by website to include these photographs.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

I am proud to announce that Beth Merritt Photography has been selected by the very chic Gina Alexander, Inc. to offer the Gina Alexander product line to her clientele. Gina Alexander, Inc manufactures designer purses with custom-designed photographs. These purses are carried by the likes of Faith Hill, Jennifer Lopez, and Fergie, and are truly the highest quality bag of this kind available in the industry.

Gina Alexander screens photography companies heavily before they allow a company to sell their product, and I was really flattered when they accepted my application.

Here are some pictures of their wonderful product:

Interested in seeing your children on a sample bag? I will be ordering samples for the studio this week. If you'd like to see a bag custom designed with your pictures on it, send me an e-mail. You'll be under no obligation to buy it. But hurry with your request... I'm only getting four studio samples! ;)

Before I forget, I wanted to make sure to notify folks that I will be out of town at a photography convention from Monday February 25th to Sunday March 2nd. I will be in class almost all week, and will be in the middle of no where in North Carolina. I have been told cellphone (and thus Blackberry) coverage is spotty at best.

If you have an issue that requires some urgency, please try to let me know by Thursday of this week, so that I can meet your needs in a timely manner.

This week is getting really busy. (I have shoots or meetings with clients pretty much every day this week!) However, there are still a couple of openings, including time for in-studio shoots and ordering sessions. So, please call early!

By the way, the convention is with four of the best female photographers in the Unites States. They are incredible photographers, and I am so excited to be spending an entire week with them... (Who knows, after this I may have you guys doing really funky stuff during our outdoor sessions this spring!?! Just kidding!)

On Saturday morning, I met a new family. This family was a bundle of energy – and we had a blast in the studio. Their little girl was showing me her dance moves, and I have to say, she has the most unbelieveable personality. Outgoing, but not overbearing – just plain cute! (hence the reason, I chose that caption on the picture below.) As you know, I don’t generally put together collages unless there is a string of pictures that is just screaming to be put together. Well, this little girl’s dance moves definitely warranted a collage!

The entire family was just plain fun and really made my job easy. (I had the kids making faces at mom and dad while they were getting their pictures done. The little boy did such a good job, that his cheeks were bright red from making all the funny faces. It was really cute.)

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Today was a very eventful day indeed! I only had two shoots, but they were really crazy!

This morning I took pictures of one of my closest friend's daughter. (By the way, if you like what I do, you have this woman to thank... she is the sole reason Beth Merritt Photography was born. I bought my first SLR for landscape pictures -or so I thought - and then she asked me to goof around and take some pictures of her son... Well, she liked them, and told everyone. The phone started ringing, I pulled a tax ID number, and well, the rest is history...)

So, here are some of my favorites from this morning's "bucket" session.

Enjoy!

Later in the afternoon, I was visited by the fabulous group of energetic chiropractors from the Michigan Chiropractic Pediatric Association. I thought they were going to be her for an hour - but we shot for almost three hours! We had a riot, and they are a great bunch of people.

They wanted headshots (not shown here) and some other non-traditional shots highlighting the great things that chiropractic offers for children. Here are some of my favorites from this afternoon's session...

Friday, February 8, 2008

Thank you so much for the overwhelming response regarding the website! I really loved looking through so many photos and remembering all the fun sessions. Entering the data... well, that wasn't quite as fun. But in the end, it was worth it.

So, e-mail is working finally. If you use the website "CONTACT FORM", I will get your message. If you send a message to beth@bethmerritt.com, I will also get your message. However, I won't get it for a little while. For some reason, my Blackberry isn't getting the messages yet. (Hopefully this will be fixed by Monday.)

March and April are beginning to fill up, so for those of you looking for a session in the near future, please call soon to ensure you can get in. (I have two conventions in March, so scheduling is a little tight!)

Okay, off to my brother's house for dinner! (Albeit a late dinner - yikes!)

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

There are still a few quirks that I need to smooth out, but I will get to them over the next couple days. All the 'goodies' about referral programs for families and high school seniors, as well as the new Bebe Sessions, are included in the new website.

I hope you like the new site as much as I do. While it is similar to the old one in some ways, in others it is far superior. (No more unsolicited e-mails from web hosting companies, and music that actually plays!)

The site will port over the next 72 hours. So, if weird things are happening (like the site randomly disappears), I have been told that that is normal. Also, I have lost all e-mail over this time. If you need me, I am going to ask that you call me by phone at 248-425-6008 or send me a text page with the information you need. Thanks for your patience...!

Don't forget about the 8x10 promotion! (Read below for more information on how to get your free 8x10.)

Sunday, February 3, 2008

So, I finally finished the website and submitted it for final posting on the Internet. I fully expect that it'll be uploaded in just a couple of days. (I am really excited about this!)

A couple of notes about the website:

Client galleries will be inside this website. No more going to another website, fumbling through multiple passwords, or getting those awful e-mail reminders!

I have started a client referral program that I am really excited to unveil. I am flattered by the trememndous response I've had from word of mouth referrals, and now I have a way to say thank you. Details about this new program will be listed in the new website.

I have created a new program which I am calling "Bebe Sessions". This special "Bebe Sessions” package includes three one-hour studio sessions within the year (i.e. Newborn, 6-9 months, and 12 months). This important package is offered for a very special rate of $150, and is only available to six new babies per month.

I still plan on running the "8x10 Promotion". If your picture is featured on the gallery, I'lll give you a free 8x10. I thought this would be a fun way to introduce my new site! So, if you see your picture on my website, send me a message through the Contact Form. Include a description of the picture you would like, and I'll order it for you right away.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

It's not very often that I get photo suggestions from my clients... but Dad had a great one that we tried. I love the outcome. The picture is of feet in the professional world (Dad's feet) and feet in the baby world.

The family was awesome, and we were able to shoot for quite a long time, really allowing us to get a good cross-section of photos.

Here are some of my favorites from the session...

Enjoy!

Beth

(PS: Yes, the new website is coming along. A ton of new stuff is coming out with the website, and so it has taken me forever to get it done... It's almost there, I promise!!)